Monday, April 27, 2015

The Italian's Deal for I Do & a writing space tour with Jennifer Hayward

Today Jennifer Hayward is kindly taking us on a tour of her writing cave! Let's see where she creates her magic.

· My cozy writing area my husband built for me

· The full artwork for my first two books I was lucky enough to score on a tour of Harlequin – The Divorce Party and An Exquisite Challenge

· My lucky orchid – I had one on my desk when I won Harlequin’s So You Think You Can Write contest. I don’t like to write without one J

· Notebook of scribbly story lines - Always by my bed at night to jot down ideas so I can sleep! Used nightly…

· Always coffee… I love this mug! I also collect Starbucks mugs from every city I visit to keep the caffeine drip going.

About the author:

JENNIFER HAYWARD has been a fan of romance and adventure since filching her sister's Harlequin Presents novels to escape her teenaged angst. Jennifer penned her first romance at 19. When it was rejected, she bristled at her mother's suggestion that she needed more life experience. Years of working alongside powerful, charismatic CEOs and traveling the world provided perfect fodder for the arrogant alpha males she loves to write, as well as free research on the some of the world's most glamorous locales. A suitable amount of life experience under her belt, she sat down and wrote The Divorce Party, a story that won her Harlequin's 2012 So You Think You Can Write contest and a book contract. Turns out, Mother knew best.

Praise for Jennifer Hayward:

“Hayward’s writing is effortless and her characters soon wrap you around their fingers.” –The Reading Café

He's conquered global markets and immeasurable hearts, but to regain control of the fashion empire that's rightfully his, Rocco Mondelli must prove his playboy days are over. His secret weapon? Supermodel-in-hiding Olivia Fitzgerald…and the power to ruin her if she refuses to play his loving fiancée!

But returning to the world stage revives Olivia's old demons, and instead of walking down the aisle toward her gorgeous groom—she flees! The world holds its breath: Can the indomitable Rocco get his wayward bride to the altar on time?

The world's sexiest billionaires finally say "I do"!

My Review:

This novel gets off to a very emotional beginning that sets the tone for the novel as a whole. It also lets you get to know the hero quite well and quite quickly. Hayward’s eloquent prose combines with an intricate plot in a way that pulls you in to this fantastic world. The contrast between the struggles of high end business and explosive chemistry was fully captivating.

I found myself laughing out loud at the absolute outrageousness of the characters at times. It was priceless. Their parallel desires yet conflicting understandings of the world around them lead to a great many interesting moments. I really felt the character and the madness that infused their lives throughout the high fashion season. It made them very easy to connect with. These are the type of characters that you pray for a HEA for.

I had so much fun with this novel! I devoured it paged by page, word by word, in a single sitting. I can’t wait to see what Hayward comes up with next.